Geeenleaf stackpole



l'NI'IEI) 'STATES PATENT FFICE.y

GREENLEAF S'IAOKPOLE, OF NEW YORK, N.

LEVER-POWER FOR SEWING AND KNlTTlNG MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 84,1441, dated November17, 1868.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GREENLEAF STACK- ;POLE, of New York city, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a new and valuableImprovement for the Application of Lever-Power to Sewing and KnittingMachines, as an auxiliary; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Description. The nature of my invention consists in pro- ,viding anauxiliary lever-power for sewing and knitting machines, by augmentingthe power applied to the treadle in the ordinary manner.

The object of my invention is to reduce the labor of runnin g sewing andknitting machines to the lowest practicable point, and, at the sametime, secure the greatest possible rate of speed, which I accomplish bymeans of levers acting upon the periphery of a wheel in such a manner asto entirely overcome the ordinary dead-centers, and gain a momentum bythrowing the balance-wheel forward faster than the treadle-motion. Bythus economizing all the power applied at the treadle, and entirelyobviating the lost power otherwise unavoidable, a speed absolutelyunattainable by the crankmotion-at least three times as great-iss'ecured, with far greater ease and comfort to the operator, while aslight and perfectly natural pressure of the knee against the brakeenables the operator to stop the machine instantly in its most rapidmotion. Furthermore, it not only greatly reduces the power necessary torun the machine and increases its speed, but also effectually preventsit from running backward, thus rendering it a most valuable aid topersons learning the use of sewing-machin es. It also possesses manyother advantages over any other known device for driving or assisting torun sewing-machines.

In the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification,and in which corresponding letters represent corresponding parts, Figurel is a side elevation of a sewingmachine with my invention applied, inwhich A is a groove-wheel, which, by the upward motion of the treadle,is brought in contact with a friction-ring, C, by means of a lever, D,acting upon the sanne. B is a similar grooved wheel, which acts in thesame manner upon a friction-ring upon the downward motion of thetreadle, said friction-rings acting alternately upon a wheel, E, securedto the shaft F by a set-screw, G, the parts being held together by meansof the collars H H upon the shaft F. When the treadle is moved themachine is set in motion by means of a cord, I, passing through theframe j and around the grooved wheels A and B, and fastened at the endsat the yoke K, the thumb-nut L being used to tighten the cord as itstretches or grows loose. The treadle-rod M is attached to theframej andto the treadle in the ordinary manner.

Fig. 2 is an end view of my device as seen from the outside.

Fig. 3 shows the arrangement of the frictionrings and levers, which arethe same on both sides of the wheel E. The pins N and O are fastened tothe inner surfaces of the grooved wheels A and B, the pin O acting uponthe lever on its forward motion, spreading the friction-ring C, andmaking it take hold of the inner surface4 of the wheel E, which isgrooved on each side to admit the ring C and lever D, so that they areush with its end surface. The friction-ring C carries around with it thewheel E, which is attached to the main shaft of the machine F, by theupward motion of the treadle propelling the machine forward, when thepin N is brought in contact with the lever O on the downward motion ofthe treadle, relieving the friction and carrying the ring C backindependently of the wheel E, while the opposite and corresponding ringclutches the wheel E on the other side, continuing its forward motion.Thus the wheel E is acted upon alternately by the two friction-rings andlevers, producing a continuous forward motion.

Fig. 5 is a bisected side view of my device, showing all the parts asthey would appear if the machine were divided from end to end throughthe center of the shaft.

Fig. 6 shows the frame j and the manner in which the cord is carriedaround the grooved wheels A and B.

P is a brake, which is hinged to the table at It, and is held inposition by a spring, (not shown in the drawing,) the brake beingcontrolled by pressing same against the side of to its opposite sides,substantially as and for the balance-Wheel7 Which it stops instantly.lthe purpose set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what 2. The cord I, framej, andthumb-nut L, sub- I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letstantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

ters Patent, is 3. The brake P, as and for the purpose set 1. Theapplication to the sewing-machine forth.

and knitting-machine of an auxiliary lever- G. STACKPOLE.

power, consisting ofthe friction-Wheel E, or its Vitnesses:

equivalent, When used to produce continuous H. C. COVERT,

motion by the alternate application of friction I. W. BARNUM.

